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Me Organized?

I have noticed that the people with the cleanest houses have the least stuff. They clean up in a jiffy because they have less to clean up. I on the other hand have a use for everything and everything is useful. I keep jars, boxes and bags. I save old shoes, socks and baby bottles. And none of my babies have ever used a baby bottle — but maybe I’ll need them someday. Usually after I organize my life, I can’t find a thing for months. My short-term memory is very, very short!

So with six kids, there are lots of things that need organizing. Every six months I have to organize their clothing suitable to the seasons. Every so often I organize their toy closet and remove the rocks, sticks and dominoes. The dominoes I keep. Once a year I organize my bedroom which catches all the miscellaneous stuff from other rooms that requires sorting. Does this sound familiar?

Our Sock Basket

My life is a happy jumble of kids, laundry, and cookbooks. Even though I’m not the queen of clean I do have a few things organized. I have a day planner. If you tell me once, I put it in the planner and I’m rarely late to important events. I have all my favorite recipes in one binder so that I can find them. (I still keep the cookbooks — maybe I’ll need them someday.) My kids have been trained to pin their socks so even though I don’t put socks in drawers, they stay in the basket year round, they are an organized jumble.

If there is one thing I’d like to have organized, it is my desk. I have projects in progress that just wait for me there. April Perry’s ebook, Mind Organization for Mothers, has given me hope that those projects can be organized with the help of folders. So far I’ve used her ideas to successfully organize my email. It is so nice to have an empty inbox.

If there is one thing my husband wishes I would organize, it is the spices. He gets frustrated when he can’t find the spice he wants even if it is in plain sight. Luckily he doesn’t have to cook all that often. I’ve thought about buying special spice racks but never done anything. After a quick google search it looks like there are a few different solutions ranging from $20-40. What is my sanity worth?

The old saying, a little preparation goes a long way, is true when it comes to maintaining a busy life. When I take the time to think before I fly (by the seat of my pants) I feel a little more in control of the situation. While I try to do what I can to keep all the ducks in a row I also try to relax and enjoy life. Hopefully no one remembers me for my messy house.